site cost

delboy159

I have been looking for a site in Laois for the past year or so - on the east side of the County, 5/6 miles east of Portlaoise. There aren't many, but the few that do pop up are generally around 170-200k for 1/2 or 3/4 acre.

Many estate agents have admitted that many sites don't sell at the asking as the farmer doesn't "need" the money and they are quite happy to sit on the land...

The irony is that only locals can get planning permission, so there are very few permissions granted, but there are also, very few sites sold/for sale.

Has anyone any inventive ideas to get around this or is it a case that if i want to build on 1/2 an acre it will cost me in the region of 170k before I even think about stamp/planning/legal etc....

Thanks...

sas

We closed on a site 5 miles out the cork road from portlaoise last august. It's 0.5 acre and it had outline planning permission. We paid 150K after a very long drawn out bidding process (6 months) where we are confident we were bidding against no one :mad: for the last 5 K.

We got full planning just before christmas and are awaiting the final grant which is due this month.

We had been looking for about 5 years for one in a good location that we could afford.

Good luck with the search.

smashey

delboy159 wrote:

I have been looking for a site in Laois for the past year or so - on the east side of the County, 5/6 miles east of Portlaoise. There aren't many, but the few that do pop up are generally around 170-200k for 1/2 or 3/4 acre.

Many estate agents have admitted that many sites don't sell at the asking as the farmer doesn't "need" the money and they are quite happy to sit on the land...

The irony is that only locals can get planning permission, so there are very few permissions granted, but there are also, very few sites sold/for sale.

Has anyone any inventive ideas to get around this or is it a case that if i want to build on 1/2 an acre it will cost me in the region of 170k before I even think about stamp/planning/legal etc....

Thanks...

I have seen the same scenario in Donegal although the sites are about half the price you mention. It might be an idea to approach a few farmers personally and ask them. If any are keen, the cost will generally be a lot less than going through estate agents.

sas

delboy159 wrote:

The irony is that only locals can get planning permission, so there are very few permissions granted, but there are also, very few sites sold/for sale.

Has anyone any inventive ideas to get around this or is it a case that if i want to build on 1/2 an acre it will cost me in the region of 170k before I even think about stamp/planning/legal etc....

Thanks...

Now that I've actually read your posting properly...

Strictly speaking its not true to say only locals get planning. For areas under strong urban influence you must be local. i.e. have lived for 7 or more years within 3 miles of the site.

But for other areas local needs does not apply although Laois county council apparently don't pay much attention to their own development plan.

You should take a look at the development plan on laois.ie.
There is a map showing the areas of urban influence.

If you are looking for an inventive way around paying 170K for a site I suggest you marry a farmers daughter